Structural device



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United States Patent 3,289,351 STRUCTURAL DEVICE James A. Ford, Sturgis, Mich., assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,821 10 Claims. (Cl. 49-208) This invention relates, in general, to an awning structure and, more particularly, relates to an awning construction including an identical pair of spaced, elongated members defining the top and bottom extremities of the awning and employed in the fastening of the awning to a supporting structure.

The present invention is the result of the continuing effort to improve an existing device, namely, that of United States patent application Serial No. 161,590 of Andrew J. Toti, et al., now Patent Number 3,234,697. The Toti construction uses a minimal number of parts, all of which are preformed and which may be transported in a knockeddown condition whereafter they may be assembled by relatively unskilled personnel in a quick and easy manner. No fasteners are required to asemble the awning and no special tools are required to attach it to a building structure. The Toti device "further includes a plurality of awning sheets or slats which are connected along one end thereof by a channel member and are connected along an opposite edge thereof by a second channel member identi' cal to the first, said slats being snap-locked to said channel members to provide a firm fastening for precluding wind chatter of the installed awning. Thus, it will be seen that the Toti construction, as more fully detailed in United States patent application Serial No. 161,590 provides a number of desirable advantages over previous structures.

However, in a continuing effort to improve an awning structure, including the manner in which it is assembled and also adapting the aforementioned Toti structure to high-volume production, the present invention was developed.

Hence, the objects of this invention include:

(1) To provide an awning structure including an awning area bounded along the upper and lower edges thereof by identical channel members.

(2) To provide an awning structure embodying at least the primary advantages of the construction of said patent application Serial No. 161,590 while being more adaptable to high-volume production.

(3) To provide a device, as aforesaid, including an improved upper channel member and upper bracket member which upon assembly are cammed with respect to each other into a locked position.

(4) To provide a device, as aforesaid, including an improved lower channel member and a brace with an improved end configuration thereon for cooperating therewith to prevent said lower channel member from moving along its own longitudinal axis with respect to said brace end.

(5 To provide a device, as aforesaid, including a lower channel member of improved configuration and including a brace end coactable therewith whereby said brace end is pivoted about said lower channel member for installing said brace on said lower channel member.

(6) To provide a device, as aforesaid, including lower bracket means capable of holding the awning in a substantially vertical orientation for masking the area above which said awning is normally extendably mounted.

(7) To provide a device, as aforesaid, produceable in large quantities at relatively low cost, installed with a minimum of effort and time without specialized tools and capable of a long service life with a minimum of maintenance.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be obvious to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an awning structure embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a broken sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary right side view of the upper channel member and cooperating upper bracket showing same in a partially assembled condition.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and showing the parts thereof in an assembled condition.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary right side elevational view of the lower channel member and the brace end as shown in FIGURE 1 and showing said parts in a partially assembled condition.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and showing the parts thereof in a fully assembled condition.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged end view of one of the channel members of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged end view of the upper bracket member of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing a modified brace end.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the bottom bracket of the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a broken sectional view essentially as taken on the line XI-XI of FIGURE 1 but with the awning of the invention having its lower edge secured to and adjacent the supporting wall.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragment showing the lower bracket and lower channel member in the contacting position prior to locking.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 showing the parts thereof in the locked position of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 14 is a forward end elevational view of the brace end of FIGURE 6.

Certain terminology will be used in the following descriptions for purposes of convenience in description only and not as limiting. For example, the terms forwardly and rearwardly will be used to denote directions with respect to the awning structure which lie, respectively, rightwardly and leftwardly in FIGURE 2. The terms rightwardly and leftwardly will be usd to denote directions along the length of the channel members as seen in FIGURE 1 and will also be used with respect to the drawings for describing parts of said awning structure. The terms upwardly and downwardly will be used with respect to the normal positions of the awning and parts thereof as appearing in FIGURE 1. The terms inwardly and outwardly will refer to the geometric center of the apparatus and parts thereof described. Such terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

General description In general, the objects and purposes of this invention are met by providing an awning structure including a pair of spaced, identical, channel members having U- shaped channels thereon for receiving thereinto and therebetween means defining an awning cover. A flange extends outwardly from one of the legs of each of said channel members and has extension means fixing a J- shaped member thereto, the bight of said I being can vex in a direction parallel to and toward the opening of the channel and the straight portion of said J-shaped member being on the side of the bight away from the channel. A plurality of upper brackets are secured to the supporting surface upon which the awning is to be mounted and each has a flange extending outwardly and upwardly to define a hook, said flange having affixed thereto intermediate the ends thereof a back piece extending upwardly and back toward said supporting surface, said back piece and said hook defining a groove for reception thereinto and cammed locking therewith of said J-shaped member on one of said channel members. Brace means extend from the supporting surface below said upper bracket toward the other or lower channel member which has its flange extending toward the supporting surface. The crescent-shaped brace end des upon the outside of the bight of the I-shaped memoer and has an outer stepped, circular surface for engaging the adjacent wall of said channel member to prevent movement of said brace therealong.

A plurality of spaced lower brackets may be fixed to the supporting surface and, if used, has an upwardly and outwardly extending flange thereon terminating in a down-turned claw. Said awning may be folded downwardly and inwardly with the flange extremity of the upper channel member pivoting in the groove of the upper bracket. A downward and rearward movement of the lower channel member causes the awning material to flex sufliciently that the J-shaped member on the lower channel member moves downwardly past and inwardly of the claw on the lower bracket whereby said awning is held by said upper and lower brackets in a stressed condition adjacent the supporting surface.

Detailed description FIGURES 1 and 2 disclose an awning structure generally indicated at removably supported as discussed hereinafter on a supporting surface 11, such as an outside wall on a dwelling. The awning structure 10 is here shown as shading a window 12 in the Surface 11.

Identical upper and lower mounting members or channel members 13 and 14 define the upper and lower edges of the awning structure 10. The upper and lower channel members 13 and 14 are secured to a suitable awning cover which is here shown as being comprised of a plurality of slats \16 which are those of the aforementioned United States patent application Serial No. 161,590. The upper channel member 13 comprises an elongated, rigid member (FIGURES 3 and 7) including a generally U-shaped channel 18 including a channel bight 19, a first leg 21 joined at right angles to said bight portion 19 by a joining portion 22 making approximately equal angles with said first leg 21 and said bight portion. A second leg 23 is attached to the other side of said bight portion 19 and generally parallels the first leg 21. The second leg 23 has toward the outer end thereof a jog portion 24 comprising a relatively narrow ledge 26 extending toward said first leg 21 and terminatingin a riser 27 diverging outwardly from said first leg to the family of planes defined by the second leg 23 and extending therealong for a short distance. The second leg 23 terminates in a bulbous end portion 28 extending slightly from said family of planes and away from said first leg 21. Said second leg 23 in this particular embodiment extends a lesser distance from the channel bight 19 than does the first leg 21. The slat 16 has a notch 29 near the upper end thereof and in the underside thereof which receives said jog portion 24 when the upper end of the slat 16 is slid toward said channel bight 19 between said first and second legs 21 and 23, respectively, whereby said slat 16 is tightly held within the channel 18. Hence, the channel member 13 of the present invention is fully adapted for use with the slats 16 of the aforementioned patent application Serial No. 161,590.

A flange 31 extends essentially perpendicularly out from the second leg 23 between the channel bight 19 and the jog portion 24. The flange 31 has an extension 32 angled further outwardly slightly toward the open end of the channel 18. The extension 32 terminates in a generally J-shaped portion 33 at the end of the straight portion 34 thereof, which straight portion 34 extends genminum or a suitable plastic.

erally parallel to the first leg 21 in the direction of the free end thereof. The bight or curved segment 35 of the J-shaped portion 33 is preferably semicircular, is concave toward the flange 31 and extension 32, and is sidewardly spaced from the jog portion 24 on the second leg 23. Hence, the channel members 13 and 14 comprise elongated members of constant cross section, are preferably monolithic and extruded and may advantageously be alu- Since the channel members 13 and 14 are identical, parts of the lower channel member 14 will be designated with the reference numerals of corresponding parts of the channel member 13 with the sutfix a added thereto.

The lower channel member 14 (FIGURES 5 and 6) is secured to the lower end of the slats 16 in the same manner as the upper channel member 13.

An upper bracket 36 (FIGURES 1, 3, 4 and 8) is afiixed to the surface 11 by any convenient means, such as the screws 37 (FIGURE 3) which extend through suitable openings in the downwardly extending mount-- ing flange 38 of said upper bracket 36. The mounting bracket 36 has a forwardly extending portion 39 atop the mounting flange 38 which terminates in a decreasing radius, upwardly curved hook 411 which defines an arc of somewhat more than degrees with said portion 39. A back piece 42 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the portion 39 between the mounting flange 38 and the' hook 41, at its lower end, originates the decreasing radius defining the hook 41 and at its upper end curves to the rear to meet the supporting surface 11. The back piece 42 and hook 41 define an upwardly opening groove 43. The back piece 42 contacts the supporting surface 11 and is braced thereby against rearward loads imposed thereon by the ]-shaped member 33. In certain cases, such as the awning construction shown in FIGURE 1, it may be desired to provide the upper bracket 36 as a continuous extended piece running the length of the upper channel member 13 whereby the back piece 42 continuously contacts the supporting surface 11 throughout the length of the upper channel member 13 so as to prevent rain from entering the area below the awning structure 10 through space between the upper channel member 13 and the surface 11. In other instances (not shown) where protection against rain entering the space below the awning through the slit between the upper channel member 13 and the surface 11 is otherwise provided or is not required, the upper bracket 36 may be provided as two or more separate, relatively short pieces which do not extend the full length of the channel member 13 but which still support the upper channel member 13.

The J-shaped portion 33 of the upper channel member 13 and the hook 41 and back piece 42 of the upper bracket 36 cooperate so that the upper channel member 13, preferably having the slats 16 assembled thereon, may have its J-shaped portion 33 lying in and supported by the groove 43 of the upper bracket 36 while the rest of the upper channel member 13 and slat 16 depend from the upper bracket 36 preparatory to being pivoted about the contacting and cooperating curved camming surfaces of the J-shaped portion 33 and groove 43 in an outward and upward direction. Such pivotal movement moves the awning structure 10 into its fully installed position shown in FIGURE 1 whereat suitable brace means described hereinafter holds same again returning pivotal movement. In its fully installed position (FIGURE 4) the curved segment 35 of the I-shaped portion 33 lie against the inner surface of the hook 41 adjacent the upper end there of and in the decreased radius portion thereof. Further pivotal movement of the awning in an upward and outward direction is prevented because further upward move ment of the J-shaped portion on the inner surface of the hook 41 is prevented by the contact between the extension 32 of the upper channel member 13, at its joint with the I-shaped portion 33, with the back piece 42. The outside radius of the curved segment 35 is preferably equal to the inside radius of the hook 41 at its free end to reduce surface loading therebetween by increasing surface contact. Since the inner surface of the hook 41 has a smoothly decreasing radius from the back portion 42, and, since the J-shaped portion 33 is essentially rigid, and hence of constant size, rotation of the I-shaped portion within the groove 43 defined by the hook 41 and back piece 42 is firmly bounded whereby the upper channel member 13 is locked against rotation upwardly and outwardly past its position of FIGURE 4.

When the upper channel member 13 is in its installed position of FIGURE 4, the extension 32 and the back piece 42 diverge upwardly slightly and do not interfere with each other during normal installation and use of the awning. Nevertheless, said extension 32 and back piece 42 are sufliciently near each other that forces of an unusually high magnitude exerted upwardly upon the awning construction will be absorbed, at least in part, by flexure of the extension 32 whereby it will approach contiguity with the backpiece 42 whereafter a continued increase in the upward loading force Will meet with increased resistance due to the shortened length and greater stiffness of the flange 31 in comparison with the extension 32. Therefore, the upper channel member 13 will tend to resist upward loading forces in an amount dependent upon magnitude of such forces thus relieving the slats 16, to some extent, of potentially damaging high upward loading forces such as those due to high velocity winds. The outward ends of the slats 16 are, when the awning structure 10 is in its fully installed position seen in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 5, essentially vertical and the lower channel member 14 is installed thereon so that the flange 31a extends generally toward the supporting surface 11 with the J-shaped portion 33 lying thereabove.

A pair of spaced braces, one of which is shown at 46 (FIGURE 1), is provided to maintain the awning structure 10 in its upwardly and outwardly pivoted position as described above and shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. A suitable brace bracket 47 is affixed to the supporting surface 11 by any convenient means, such as a screw (not shown) and is secured to the rearward end of the brace 46 by any convenient means such as the bolt 49. The brace 46 preferably comprises a telescoped pair of segments 51 and 52 which may be moved axially of each other for adjusting the length 'of the brace 46. The segments 51 and 52 are held in a fixed relationship by any convenient means, such as a set screw 53 (FIGURE 2).

The brace 46 has at its forward end a cam finger 56 for interaction with the J-shaped portion 33a and second leg 23a of the lower channel member 14. At least the forward endof the brace 46 (FIGURE 14) preferably comprises a pair of spaced, essentially parallel planar elements connected across their upper sides by a suitable web for defining an inverted preferably U-shaped cross section whereby two identical cam fingers 56 in fixed spaced relationship will engage the lower channel member 14. Hence, movement of theforward end of the brace 46 within the plane which it defines with the lower channel member 14 is resisted, such movement being due, for example, to flexure of the brace 46 or to side loading thereon. i

The cam finger 56 (FIGURES 5 and 6) includes an inner, semicircular surface 57, an outer semicircular, concentric surface 58 of increased radius which slightly above its forwardmost point increases in radius to form the raised edge portion 59 which continues upwardly preferably at a constant radius to a point near the top of the brace 46. The inner semicircular surface '57 forms the forward boundary of a suitable recess 61 which extends rearwardly along the brace 46 for a short distance and opens through the bottom edge thereof. The radius of the semicircular surface 57 is preferably equal to the outside radius of the J-shaped p0rti'on33a, the distance from the defining center for the curved portion 35a of the J-shaped member 33a to the second leg 23a is approximately the radius of the outer semicircular portion 58 and the distance from the defining center of the curved portion 35a of the J-shaped members 33a to the bulbous end portion 28a is somewhat less than the radius of the raised portion 59. The brace 46 may assume a preinstallation position with respect to the lower channel member 14, such as that pictured in FIGURE 5, wherein the brace 46 depends from said channel member 14, the J- shaped members 33a supporting said brace 46 by contact with the semicircular surface 57 thereon. The brace 46 may then be moved into an installed position by rotating same in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG- URE 6, about the coincident centers of the curved portion 35a and the semicircular surface 57 to produce a mutual sliding motion therebetween whereby the outer semicircular portion 58 passes the second leg 23a, whereat the end portion 62 of the cam finger 56 rests against the extension 32a and whereby the raised portion 59 cuts into and lies within the groove cut thereby in the bulbous portion 28a, the material of said raised portion 59 being preferably harder than that of the bulbous portion 28a. This grooving action precludes, when the awning: 10 is fully installed, relative movement between the brace 46 and the lower channel member 14 along the longitudinal axis of said channel member 14.

Operation Although the operation of the awning structure embodying the invention has been indicated somewhat hereinabove, same will be reviewed to insure a clear understanding.

The awning construction ltl'emb-odying the invention may be assembled by inserting the ends of the slats 16 into the channel members 13 and 14 in a manner essentially similar to that disclosed in the afore-mentioned United States patent application Serial No. 161,590; whereby the channel members 13 and 14 and the slats 16 comprise a unit. The awning construction 10 may then be hung upon the upper bracket or brackets 36, the I-shaped portion 33 of the upper channel members 13 resting in and being supported by the groove 43 in said upper brackets 36, the brackets 36 having previously been secured to the supporting surface or wall 11. The brace brackets 47 may at this time be or previously have been installed on the surface 11 below the upper brackets 36. The awning structure 10 may now be revolved upwardly and forwardly toward its fully installed position of FIGURES 2 and 4, said movement being allowed by pivoting of the J-shaped portion 33 in the groove 43. When the awning structure 10 is at or near such forward and upward position, the installer may hold same in such position with one hand and with the other hand, hook the camming finger 56 of the brace 46 over the I-shaped portion 33a of the lower channel member 14 essentially as shown in FIGURE 5. The brace 46 may then be rotated about the mutual defining center of the camming finger 56 and the J-shaped member 33a until the end 62 of the camming finger 56 contacts the extension 32a, said rotation having caused the raised edge portion 59 to groove itself into the bulbous portion 28a whereby to prevent relative movement therebetween longitudinally of the lower channel member 14. The brace 46 thus installed on the awning construction 10 extends substantially perpendicularly to the forward lower portion of said awning structure rearwardly toward the supporting surface 11 and is restrained from all movement with respect to the awning structure 10 except a reversal of the rotationimmediately hereinabove described. The rearward end of the .brace 46 may then be securedto the brace bracket 47 as by the bolt 49 to complete its restraint. The adjustment screw 53 is then loosened so that the awning construction 10 may be rotated about its upper end to a locked position whereat itcan be rotated no further upwardly due to the locking of the upper channel member 13 and the upper bracket 36 (FIGURE 4) and the set screw 53 is then structure in a stressed condition whereby to resist flut-.

tering, etc., caused by wind;

Modification FIGURE 9 discloses a modified brace 46b having a substantially modified forward end thereon. The mounting structure braced thereby is identical with that of the above-described preferred embodiment. and corresponding parts thereof will be designated with the same refer ence numerals as were used above with the suffix b added thereto. shaped member having an inverted U-shaped cross section as was the brace 46 above discussed. The brace 46b has a perpendicularly cut end face 71 and a cut-out portion or recess 72 adjacent to but spaced from said end face 71 and opening through the lower edge of said brace 46b to form a depending nose 73. Said nose 73 has a generally S-shaped rearward face and is thus narrow at 76 near the top thereof and widened at 74 near the bottom thereof. The brace 46b may be affixed to the brace bracket 47 to FIGURE 2 and the modified forward end thereof shown in FIGURE 9 may be brought downwardly and into the area defined by the second leg 23b and the J-shaped portion 33b. The bottom edge of the end face 71 cuts a groove for itself through the bulbous portion 28b for preventing relative movement of the channel member 14b and the edge portion 71 longitudinally of said channel member, said end face 71 remaining within the groove so cut even upon reaching its fully installed position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 9. Such downward movement of the forward portion of the brace 46 brings the wide portion of the nose 73 into contact with the I shaped member 33b which Lshaped member is forced aside by passage of said widened portion 74 therepast. As the nose 73 bottoms against the flange 31b, the narrow portion 76 of said nose 73 becomes adjacent to the J.-shaped portion 33b allowing same to return to its original position, in which position it is snugly placed with respect to said narrow portion 76 for holding the nose 73 and, hence, the brace 46b in its assembled position shown.

FIGURES 10 through 13 disclose further means related to the preferred structure and, more specifically, relate to a'closure bracket 81 for gripping the lower channel member of the awning construction 10 and holding same in close proximity to the supporting surface 11 whereby, for example, to cover an opening such as the window 12. The closure bracket 81 comprises a planar mounting flange 82 having a suitable opening 83 therein for attachment to the surface 11. The flange 82 is connected at its'upward end to a forwardly and slightly upwardly extending wing 84 terminating in a downwardly extending claw 86 and slightly forwardly extending knuckle 87. The claw' 86 has an essentially planar vertical forward face and a semicircular, inner surface 88. The closure bracket 81 is positioned with respect to the upper bracket 36 so that when the brace 46 is released and the awning structure 10 is allowed to pivot downwardly and rearwardly around the pivot axis defined by the J-shaped portion33 and the groove 43, theJ-shaped member 33a will at its joint to the extension 32a come to rest against the forward face of the claw 86 below the knuckle 87. A further downward andv rearward pressure manually applied to the lower channel member 14 will cause the J-shaped portion 33a to move down the forward face of the claw 86 until the semicircular portion 35a of the member 14 moves downwardly and inwardly past the downward tip of the claw 86. At this point, the operator may release the lower channel member 14 and the natural The brace 46b is preferably a channel-.

resilience of the awning slats 16 will pull the J-shaped portion 33a upwardly and forwardly into contact with the inner semicircular surface 88 of the closure bracket 81, whereby said closure bracket 81 holds the awning in a downwardly extending position covering the window 12 and in a preferably stressed condition whereby to prevent fluttering, etc., due to wind. The awning construction 10 thus positioned, protects the window 12 from damaging natural forces and also tends to deter entering through the window 12 by unauthorized persons. Thus, the awning construction of the invention is particularly useful on dwellings that are left unattended, such as summer cottages and the like. Furthermore, the awning construction 10, when held in its downward position of FIGURE 11 by the closure bracket 81, will be more able to resist damage from high winds and other extraordinary phenomena than it would be able to do in its upward, fully installed position of FIGURE 1.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the inventionv has been disclosed hereinabove for purposes of illustration, modifications or variations of such disclosure appearing in the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In an awning construction, meansvfor securing the upper edge of the awning to a building structure, comprising:

a flange means extending from the inner face of said awning adjacent the upper edge thereof and fixed with respect thereto, said flange means having a planar extension angled slightly toward the lower.

end of said awning from the plane defined by said flange means, said extension having a portion with an outside wall generally parallel said awning and extending toward the lower end thereof and terminating in an essentially semicircular portion which is convex toward said lower end of said awning; bracket means secured to said building structure including means defining an upwardly opening, arcuate groove therein having a decreasing radius toward the forward side thereof and into which said semicircular portion is receivable, the radius of the inner surface of said groove at said forward side being approximately the same as that of said semicircular surface, the uppermost tip of said forward side being slightly rearward of the forwardmost extent of said groove; whereby said semicircular portion is rested in said groove with said awning depending downwardly therefrom and whereby said other end of said awning may be moved upwardly and forwardly so as to pivot said semicircular portion within said groove until said semicircular portion approaches said upper end of said forward side of said groove and the juncture of said extension and said outside wall portion rests against the rearward wall of said groove, further penetration of said juncture into said groove and further movement of semicircular portion out of said groove being prevented by the decreasing radius of said groove.

2. The awning construction defined in claim 1 wherein said groove is spaced from said building structure and wherein the rearward surface of said groove extends upwardly and rearwardly to form a back portion contacting said building structure for bracing said back wall of said groove against flexure induced by the rearward forces exerted thereon by said juncture of said straight portion and said extension.

3. The awning construction defined in claim 1 wherein said flange means and saidbracket means are extrusions.

'4. The awning'construction defined in claim 3 wherein said flange means and said bracket means are made of aluminum.

5. In an awning construction supported upon a supporting surface and extending forwardly therefrom, the combination comprising:

a mounting member at the lower end of said awning and fixed with respect thereto including means defining an upwardly opening groove comprised of flange means extending rearwardly from said awnforcibly abuts against said bulbous portion so that a groove is formed in said bulbous portion, said semicircular portion on said mounting member being deflected rearwardly by the passage therepast of said ing, extension means securing a semicircular portion enlarged lower portion of said nose and returning to said flange means above and rearwardly of said to its normal position adjacent said narrowed porflange means and wall means extending upwardly tion of said nose whereby said groove prevents said from the forward end of said flange means, said brace from moving with respect to said awning strucwall means having a notch therein above said flange ture and wherein said enlarged portion of said nose means and having a bulbous portion extending upacts against said semicylindrical portion of said wardly and rearwardly from said wall means; mounting member to prevent vertical. movement brace member extending forwardly from said suptherebetween to fix said brace and said awning porting surface, the forward end thereof receivable against relative movement.

in said groove, said forward end having a recess 7. In an awning structure pivotally secured at its upper therein along the lower edge adjacent the forward edge to a supporting surface and having its bottom edge end, said forward end of said recess being semicapable of moving from a position outwardly of said cylindrical shaped, said forward end of said brace supporting surface to a position adjacent said supporting being convex at the lower portion thereof and convex surface, the combination comprising:

at a greater radius from the same center at the upper mounting member means projecting from the inner portion thereof, said center coinciding with the cenface of said awning adjacent the lower edge thereof ter of said forward end of said recess, the distance and fixed with respect thereto and terminating in an between said upper portion and said semicircular end portion extending generally parallel to said awnportion of said recess being slightly greater than the ing and projecting upwardly toward the upper edge distance between said semicircular portion and said of said awning;

bulbous portion on said mounting member structure, closure bracket means mounted on said supporting the distance between said lower portion and said surface including a forwardly extending wing theresemicircular portion on said brace being essentially on having near its outer end a depending claw to equal to the distance between said semicircular porreceive said upwardly projecting end portion of said tion and said wall means on said mounting member, mounting member;

whereby said brace being hung With its semicircular whereby when said awning is in its downwa dmost portion in contact with the semicircular portion of position, said mounting member is in contact with said mounting member and rotated in a d ection the forward end of said depending claw and whereby to bring said upper portion of said forward end Of a downward and rearward pressure force exerted said brace into the space between said bulbous porupon the lowe edge of aid awning causes said awntion and said semicircular portion on said mounting i to fl x ifi i tl that aid end portion moves member and Said lower Portion into the Space downwardly along the forward face of said claw tween said wall means and said semicircular portion rearwardly past id l w whereby aid end portion on said mounting means and into contact with said is engaged by the inner surface of said claw t0 flange means, whereupon Said pp end Portion of maintain said awning in a stressed condition and to Said brace abuts forcibly against Said bulbous P prevent forward and upward movement of the lower tion and deforms said bulbous portion to form a d h f groove therein preventing relative movement be- 3, An awning construction, comprising:

tween said mounting member and said brace in a an awning h t gripped along it upper and lower direction Parallel to the lower fldge of said awning v edges by identical channel members, said channel structure. 40 members comprising:

6. In an awning construction having the upward and a generally h channel including generally Iwfward g thereof secured to a Supporting Surface, allel, spaced first and second legs joined by a bight the combination comprising: portion, said second leg including an inwardly jogged a mounting member eXtehdihg along the lower edge portion adjacent the free end thereof, said free end of said awning structure and fixed with respect thereterminating i a b lb ridge; to including means defining an Upward Opening a flange extending outwardly from said second leg groove Comprising, rearwardly extending flange adjacent said bight portion and having extension means and an upwardly convex semicircular surface means connecting Same to h t d id of an above and rearwardly Spaced from Said flange and essentially semicylindrical portion which is convex having a rear edge thfifealohg, extshsioh means in the direction of opening of said channel, said ex- COhIleCtihg Said flange means With said rear edge tension means being at an angle with respect to of said semicircular surface and wall means extend- Said flange; ing upwardly f the forward end Of Said flange bracket means releasably securing said semicircular means and t rmin g at a point Vertically Spaced portion of the upper one of said channel members to from said semicircular portion in a bulbous portion a Supporting Surface; and eXtendhlg rearwardly Slightly from Plane of Said brace means releasably securing said semicircular por- Wallmeahs; tion on the lower one of said channel members to brace m m eXtehdihg forwardly from Said P- said supporting surface for holding said awning strucporting surface toward said lower edge of said awnmm in an erect position, ihg Structure and having a forward end portion 9. In an awning construction, means securing the lower ceivable in Said groove in said .mounting .member edge of the awning to a supporting surface, comprising: including a depending nose havmg a Vemcal a mounting member secured to the lower end of the Ward edge. and havmg a i edge conyerging awning and having a rearwardly extending flange toward i forward In an upward dlrecnon terminating in an upwardly convex arcuate surface 2 that gg g z xg near the bottom thereof spaced rearwardly from the rear side of the awning an near whereby when sait i forward end of said brace is moved defimng an P f openmg Slot a brace extendrn forwardly from sa1d supporting surdownwardly and 1nto the space between sa1d semi f d d h circular portion and said bulbous portion on said face and havmg a nose at its orwar en w 1c rs awning structure, the forward edge of said brace snugly recelvable 1n sa1d slot, sa1d nose havlng an arcuate surface for overlying and snugly engaging a bracket mounted on a supporting wall and having an said arcuate surface on said mounting member. upwardly opening socket into which said arcuate 10. An awning construction, comprising: edge portion of said upper mounting member is awning sheet means; receivable; and

a pair of identical mounting members afiixed to the 5 a brace mounted on said supporting wall and having upper and lower edges of said awning sheet means, said mounting members each including a channelshaped portion for embracing the associated edge of said awning sheet means, inwardly extending flange a downwardly extending nose receivable in said slot in said lower mounting member.

References Cited by the Examiner means, and wall means extending generally parallel 10 with said awning sheet means terminating in a con- UNITED STATES PATENTS vex arcuate edge portion spaced laterally from said S5312 5 channel means, said arcuate edge portion of the upper 23481765 8/1958 showalter mounting member facing downwardly and said arcuate edge portion of the lower mounting member 15 HARRISON MOSELEY Primary Examiner facing upwardly and defining an upwardly facing slot; P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

9. IN AN AWNING CONSTRUCTION, MEANS SECURING THE LOWER EDGE OF THE AWNING TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE, COMPRISING: A MOUNTING MEMBER SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF THE AWNING AND HAVING A REAREARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE TERMINATING IN AN UPWARDLY CONVEX ARCUATE SURFACE SPACED REARWARDLY FROM THE REAR SIDE OF THE AWNING DEFINING AN UPWARDLY OPENING SLOT; A BRACE EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE AND HAVING A NOSE AT ITS FORWARD END WHICH IS SNUGLY RECEIVABLE IN SAID SLOT, SAID NOSE HAVING AN ARCAUTE SURFACE FOR OVERLYING AND SNUGLY ENGAGING SAID ARCUATE SURFACE ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBER. 